Organizations are increasingly developing or deploying “immersive technologies,” a collection of hardware and software products that substitute, enhance, or alter users’ individual, physical-world experiences. These emerging technologies—which include tools like extended reality (XR), virtual worlds, and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)—have the potential to transform healthcare, education, entertainment, advertising, and other sectors. However, because they often rely on large amounts and kinds of personal, potentially sensitive data, they also raise important privacy and data protection questions. Without safeguards, data about people’s bodies, behaviors, and surrounding environments could be inferred and used to manipulate, discriminate against, or otherwise harm both users and bystanders. FPF works with experts from industry, academia, and civil society to identify the unique privacy and data protection risks in this nascent field, analyze how existing and emerging regulations implicate immersive technologies, and develop best practices and policy recommendations.
FPF’s Year in Review 2024
With contributions from Judy Wang, Communications Intern 2024 was a landmark year for the Future of Privacy Forum, as we continued to grow our privacy leadership through research and analysis, domestic and global meetings, expert testimony, and more – all while commemorating our 15th anniversary. Expanding our AI Footprint While 2023 was the year of […]
We’re in this Together: Expert Speakers Explore Topics Related to Protecting Privacy, Security, and Online Safety for Young People in Australia
On June 26, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) co-hosted an online discussion on Privacy, Security, and Online Safety for Young People in Australia. The panel included welcoming remarks from John Verdi, FPF, and Bart Hogeveen, ASPI, and consisted of experts across all three disciplines, including: The discussion […]
FPF in 2023: A Year in Review
As 2023 comes to an end, we want to reflect on a year that saw the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) continue to expand its presence globally and domestically while organizing engaging events, publishing thought-provoking analysis, providing the latest expert updates, and more. FPF continues to convene industry experts, academics, consumer advocates, and other experts […]
FPF in 2022: A Year in Review
As 2022 comes to an end, we wanted to reflect on a year that saw the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) expand its presence both domestically and around the globe, while producing engaging events, thought-provoking analysis, and insightful publications. Global Expansion In 2022, FPF closely followed and advised upon significant developments in Asia, the European […]
Join FPF For XR Week: April 19th-23rd, 2021
Adoption of augmented and virtual reality hardware and software technologies – collectively known as extended reality or “XR” – is taking hold among businesses and individuals. If you’d like to engage in the discussion about the ethical and privacy considerations of XR tech, join our XR Week activities April 19th to 23rd! After decades of development, demonstrations, […]
Five Top of Mind Data Protection Recommendations for Brain-Computer Interfaces
By Jeremy Greenberg, [email protected] and Katelyn Ringrose [email protected]. Key FPF-curated background resources – policy & regulatory documents, academic papers, and technical analyses regarding brain-computer interfaces are available here. Recently, Elon Musk livestreamed an update for Neuralink—his startup centered around creating brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). BCIs are an umbrella term for devices that detect, amplify, and translate […]
Policymakers, regulators, and privacy executives interact with latest connected tech at FPF's Second Annual Tech Lab
FPF held the Second Annual Tech Lab Open House Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at our offices in Washington, D.C. The Tech Lab Open House provided an opportunity for us to host FPF members and colleagues based in the District of Columbia, and those from around the world who were in town for the International Association of Privacy Professional’s Global Privacy Summit.
July 20th Event: Kids & The Connected Home
The debate over the relationship between children and technology has been heated and complex. Issues ranging from the right amount of screen time, online privacy, safety and security have occupied policymakers, parents, and advocates for quite some time.